10 Questions to Ask Your Interviewer to Land Your Dream Job

Updated June 18, 2022785

The questions you ask at your job interview shows the interviewer you’re interested and can help you get hired. Here’s the questions you should be asking.

Questions To Ask an Interviewer

An initial job interview presents a unique opportunity for job seekers to assess a potential employer and their company culture. The right questions can provide a wealth of useful information and show a recruiter that you are a passionate candidate who has a genuine interest in the role. Here are the best questions to ask your interviewer.

Three Ways To Prepare for a Job Interview

Interviewees who want to impress the hiring manager in charge of their interview should take some time to prepare. Good general interview preparations such as practicing answers to common job interview questions and ensuring you have appropriate clothing are a good place to start, along with these . three important tips:

Re-read the job description

The job posting should contain all of the information that you need to identify the company’s criteria for an “ideal candidate”. Re-acquainting yourself with the job description and taking note of where your skills match its requirements is one of the most effective interview preparation tips.
Research the company

As well as researching the needs of a particular job description in a broad sense, you should research the company you will be interviewing for. Study the company values and its history. This information is often easily found on the company’s website. The information you find may help you answer the hiring manager's questions about why you want to work for the company.
Prepare a list of questions

Once you have researched the job description and the company culture as much as possible, you should create a list of questions that your research raised or has been unable to answer. You will have an opportunity to ask these questions at the end of the interview.

These simple steps will help you to walk into your interview with confidence, but knowing which questions you should ask will ensure that your confidence is well-placed.

10 Key Questions To Ask Your Interviewer

Here are 10 great questions that you should ask your interviewer when applying for a new job:

What does a typical day in this role consist of?

This kind of question will give you an idea of what to expect from the role in terms of the day-to-day responsibilities should you get a job offer, but will also show the recruiter that you are serious in your intentions.
What are the biggest challenges presented by this role?

When you ask for details of the biggest challenges you are likely to face if you take on the job, you will get a realistic view of the less glamorous facets of the role and what the work environment is like. This question will also open up further conversation and allow you to present some information about your strengths by indicating how you would meet these challenges.
Does this career path offer opportunities for professional development?

Just as your interviewer may ask questions about your management style, you should ask about opportunities for advancement to show you are eager to develop professionally.
What training programs are available for staff?

If you are a recent graduate, this information may be more important for you than it would be for people who have many years of experience. However, if the company offers any specialist training, this could help your career path progression.
Where is the last person who held this job title moving to?

The status of the person who has left the job title you are applying for can be indicative of the opportunities that the company offers. For example, if they were promoted, then you can be certain that the company offers advancement opportunities. If they left for another company or a more specialized role, this can indicate that the role is one that will look good on your resume. This question also indicates to recruiters that you are interested in your long-term career progression.
What is the performance review process?

Information on the performance review process will be crucial to your understanding of how you will be expected to adjust if you receive a job offer. For example, you might find that your initial year is a probationary period where your performance is reviewed more regularly.
How is performance evaluated?

The basic criteria by which performance is evaluated will tell you what the company prioritizes in its employees.
Do you expect this company to grow over the next five years?

This question is particularly important if you are applying to work with a small company or a start-up. If you are applying to work for a large company, you could instead ask about what they see in the future of the department you are applying to work in.
How does the hiring process progress from here?

Once you reach the end of an interview and you have asked all of the key questions you want answers to, you can ask what to expect from the hiring or onboarding process. The recruiter will be able to indicate whether there would be a next interview or if you should simply wait for an answer.
Can I answer any final questions for you?

Offer the hiring manager a last chance to ask you any questions they may have on their mind to bring the interview to a satisfactory close.

These are some of the best questions to ask a hiring manager when you want to stick in their mind and get a job offer. If you want to seriously increase your chance of getting the job, consider these additional job interview tips and tricks.

FAQ: Questions To Ask an Interviewer

What questions shouldn’t you ask at a job interview?

While the terms of employment are important, you should not ask questions about salary, benefits, working hours, or vacation time at the first interview. These kinds of questions should be reserved for a later date.

Why is it important to ask questions at an interview?

It is important that you ask interview questions of your own because it will show the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in the position and company that you have applied to. If you ask good questions you will also show them that you have undertaken research.

Should you bring a copy of your resume to a job interview?

It can be helpful to bring two or three copies of your resume to a job interview in case your interviewer wants to discuss certain points. If you bring copies and they are not needed then the interview process will not be interrupted. If the hiring manager asks and you don’t have them, however, it could count against you.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.